Bob Briggs remembers the last time he saw his friend, Richard Buttery.
The two shook hands during a stop-over in Hawaii and joked about the party they’d have the next time they got together.
Monday, Mr. Briggs was one of the hundreds who turned out to honor his old friend, Sharon’s only loss to the Korean War, and four other servicemen killed in World War II in Memorial Day ceremonies there.
“It’s been an awful long time coming,” Mr. Briggs said. “It means so much to all of us to have these men remembered for what they did.”
Though Sharon Springs American Legion Post 1269 holds services in front of the school every Memorial Day, Monday’s ceremonies dedicated two granite monuments placed just days earlier.
The one on the right honors Corporal Richard Buttery, SSCS Class of 1947, killed in action near Yanggu, Korea, June 3, 1951.
On the left, its twin remembers the four men killed in WWII: Lieutenant Andrew Empie, Class of 1938, September 29, 1944; Sergeant Walter Sall, Class of 1932, December 5, 1942; Corporal Laurence Stephens, Class of 1938; and Private Howard Slater, February 19, 1944.
The memorials are intended to be benches and in both the days leading up to Monday’s services and afterwards, families of the five fallen servicemen gathered at them for photos and reflection.
“A lot of people have been stopping,” said Tony Desmond, Sharon supervisor, Legion member and one of those who spent the past two years making the new monuments happen.
“That’s why we didn’t want to have an ‘unveiling.’ We wanted people to be able to stop and spend their own time there.”
The monuments also owe their existence to the persistence of Shirley Pyrdol and Faye Rudnicki, and to their mother, Hazel Buttery, who died in 2006, still hoping that her son would some day be remembered in his hometown.
In 2007, the Legion picked up the ball and ran with it; Monday Mrs. Pyrdol and Mrs. Rudnicki were among the families honored by veterans, Scouts, and the United States Marine Corps with speeches, flags, and flowers.
“It’s especially humbling to speak of the heroes here today,” said Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Douglas, United States Marine Corps Reserve, in his remarks.
“[The monuments] are solid symbols that this nation does commemorate its fallen heroes…”
Lieutenant Colonel Douglas pointed out that it’s often said freedom has its price, “today is a day to say thank you to all who sacrificed their lives in the defense of freedom.”
Other remarks came from master of ceremony John Copland and American Legion Commander David Costello.
Both in the parade that followed the ceremonies and afterwards, the SSCS Marching Band performed as did bagpiper Susan Murray-Miller.
Wreaths were placed at the foot of the monuments by Jean Bakkom, Auxiliary president, Mr. Costello, and representatives of the families; and a single helicopter offered a fly-over as the ceremony ended.
“It was a nice ending to a beautiful day,” Mr. Desmond said afterwards.
“We were blessed with great weather and a nice turnout. The families were very appreciative. I’m glad.”